Frontier Hotel and Casino

The Frontier Hotel and Casino began as the Pair O’ Dice casino and dance club in 1931. In 1941, R.E. Griffith purchased the property and, with his nephew William J. Moore, built the Hotel Last Frontier, which opened on October 30, 1942, next to the El Rancho Vegas. The resort’s Western theme was reinforced by a replica Old West village added in 1948, which included the Silver Slipper casino (1950). Griffith died in 1943, and Moore assumed ownership until 1951, when a succession of investor groups took control.

A modernised expansion opened on April 4, 1955, as the New Frontier, operating concurrently with the Last Frontier until both were closed in 1965 and demolished. A new resort, The Frontier, opened on July 29, 1967, with future mogul Steve Wynn among its initial investors—marking Wynn’s entry into Las Vegas gaming. Shortly after opening, Howard Hughes bought out the ownership group in December 1967, holding the property through Hughes Tool Company and later Summa Corporation. In 1988, Summa sold The Frontier to Margaret Elardi and her sons, who added a 16‑story hotel tower in 1990. That same year, the Elardis refused to renew the Culinary Workers Union contract, sparking a strike on September 21, 1991, that became one of America’s longest, lasting nearly seven years.

Businessman Phil Ruffin purchased the property for $167 million, finalising the sale on February 1, 1998. He renamed it the New Frontier, immediately ended the strike by agreeing to a union contract, and invested $20 million in renovations that included the addition of Gilley’s Saloon—a country‑western venue. Over the next decade, Ruffin floated several redevelopment concepts (including a condo‑hotel and a $5‑billion Plaza Hotel replica) but was unable to secure financing. The property was sold in 2007 to Israeli‑backed El Ad Properties for $1.2 billion, closed on July 16, 2007, and was demolished via implosion on November 13, 2007. The 35‑acre site has remained vacant since then, with a planned resort called Ālon Las Vegas (backed by James Packer and Andrew Pascal) never breaking ground.

The Frontier’s legacy includes its role as a mid‑market Strip property for decades, its status as a battleground for labour rights, and its place in Las Vegas history as the launchpad for Steve Wynn’s career. The property was not a technology or B2B company; it offered standard casino‑hotel amenities (slots, table games, restaurants, entertainment). No digital platforms, software, or licensing were ever developed under the Frontier name. The resort’s official website (www.frontierlv.com or similar) was taken offline after closure and no longer exists in an active state.